Epiphany 6 Year 2

Color: Green
Closest RCL Sunday(s): Proper 17(22)B
Readings: What Defiles? – Mark 7:1-23 (Psalm 51:1-3, 6-7)
Prayer of the Day (Working Preacher): Teacher Jesus, too often we blame external people and situations for our heartaches and brokenness. Help us to look inward to uncover and heal the things that defile: bitterness, hatred, jealousy, and greed. Help us instead to be agents of peace, hope, generosity, and love. Amen.
Other Resources: WorkingPreacher, TextWeek, BibleHub

Suggested hymns based on the texts:

ELW #801. Change My Heart, O God
ELW #605. Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive
ELW #786. O Holy Spirit, Enter In
ELW #620. How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
ELW #450. I Bind unto Myself Today
ELW #661. I Love to Tell the Story
ELW #477. I Received the Living God
ELW #592. Just As I Am, without One Plea
ELW #512. Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil
ELW #599. Lord Jesus, Think on Me
ELW #676. Lord, Speak to Us, That We May Speak
ELW #750. Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart
ELW #759. My Faith Looks Up to Thee
ELW #606. Our Father, We Have Wandered
ELW #328. Restore in Us, O God
ELW #623. Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
ELW #584. The Son of God, Our Christ
ELW #800. Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
ELW #614. There Is a Balm in Gilead
ELW #587/8. There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
ELW #758. You Are the Way
LBW #488. Breathe on Me, Breath of God
Various Hymnals As a Chalice Cast of Gold (1984) by Thomas Troeger
Various Hymnals Be Kind to One Another (1915) by Mabel Roseman
Various Hymnals Sing praises old and new (1998) by Brian Wren
Various Hymnals Your word, O God, a living sword (1998) by Christopher Wren
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship; LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship; WOV=With One Voice)

Other (mostly contemporary) options:

Prayers of Intercession:

(Introduction and Conclusion from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002)

God of revelation, as we gather in praise for the gracious mystery of your Son, we remember the many needs of your church and your world.

A brief silence.

Help the church to honor you with both lips and hearts, O God, and keep us focused on your word of grace, mercy, salvation, and love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Grant wisdom to all who care for the land and all who care for animals, O God, and work through them to bring the earth’s abundance to all. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Work through our governmental leaders, O God, and keep them from those things which defile hearts and minds. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Provide communities of love and support to those on the outskirts, O God, and make us better at truly welcoming our neighbors. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bring healing and comfort to the sick, O God, and surround them with your loving presence. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Keep us from worshiping traditions over you, O God, and turn our hearts to your precepts of love and compassion. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

We remember the saints who now rest in you, O God, and pray that their witness and love live on in our lives. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Guide us on the path of salvation, O God, that the radiance and power of your Holy Spirit working in the world will gather together all peoples and nations in one community to offer you worship and proclaim your splendor. Amen.

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